However, the council said it is likely to remain closed for the next few days.

CCTV captured the moment the landslip happened at Bournemouth

Seafront manager Chris Saunders said the expert had determined all the debris had fallen away with no further danger of a landslide.

He added: “A small amount of loose material, however, may fall when it next rains.

“We have been advised that a section of the cliff adjacent to where the landslip occurred does need monitoring over the next few days and therefore the surrounding promenade in that area will stay closed until further notice.”

The council said it could not specify exactly when public access would be restored but stressed that the zig-zag path down to the beach front is open and the rest of the promenade is operating as usual.

However, the East Cliff lift is closed and the land train will not be running a pier-to-pier service until the council confirms otherwise.

Professor Roger Moore, a geomorphology expert, said it is no surprise there have been landslips around the coast given the recent wet weather, but that although it is possible to predict where they will happen – it is much more difficult to judge when.

The University of Sussex academic added that it is quite rare to have consecutive winters with such extreme wet weather, and that the region has not experienced two in a row such as this since 2000 and 2001.

He said: “We need suitable experts to carry out rigorous inspections of the cliff.”

Richard Edmonds, project manager of Dorset County Council’s Jurassic Coast team, said this section of the cliff is composed of sand, gravel and clay.

“The seafront protects the cliff from erosion to a certain extent but really heavy, prolonged rainfall can lead to landslips like this, as well as rock falls,” he added.

Comments (9)

The 'expert' stated, "...it is no surprise there have been landslips..." so why does your headline declare that it was a "shock" landslip? Why can't journalists report events without their being "shock", "horror" or "terror" involved?

The 'expert' stated, "...it is no surprise there have been landslips..." so why does your headline declare that it was a "shock" landslip? Why can't journalists report events without their being "shock", "horror" or "terror" involved?Dave2207

For anyone clearly including the expert quoted who understands how cliffs are formed in the first place a landslip along a cliff edge during a wet and stormy spell could never be called a 'shock'.

Only the substantial promenade along Bournemouth's seafront prevents such falls being a completely routine event and indeed our current seafront being significantly further inland.

For anyone clearly including the expert quoted who understands how cliffs are formed in the first place a landslip along a cliff edge during a wet and stormy spell could never be called a 'shock'.
Only the substantial promenade along Bournemouth's seafront prevents such falls being a completely routine event and indeed our current seafront being significantly further inland.muscliffman

beachcomber1 wrote:
this is just an excuse for them to drag their heels over removing the debris.

From the second paragraph of the story - "A clear-up followed and a geo-technical expert examined the area on Friday afternoon. "

So not really much of an excuse

[quote][p][bold]beachcomber1[/bold] wrote:
this is just an excuse for them to drag their heels over removing the debris.[/p][/quote]From the second paragraph of the story - "A clear-up followed and a geo-technical expert examined the area on Friday afternoon. "
So not really much of an excuseranger_bob

beachcomber1 wrote:
this is just an excuse for them to drag their heels over removing the debris.

From the second paragraph of the story - &quot;A clear-up followed and a geo-technical expert examined the area on Friday afternoon. "

So not really much of an excuse

errr have you actually been there? the "clearup" consisted of builldozing all the earth onto the beach, where it remains.

[quote][p][bold]ranger_bob[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]beachcomber1[/bold] wrote:
this is just an excuse for them to drag their heels over removing the debris.[/p][/quote]From the second paragraph of the story - "A clear-up followed and a geo-technical expert examined the area on Friday afternoon. "
So not really much of an excuse[/p][/quote]errr have you actually been there? the "clearup" consisted of builldozing all the earth onto the beach, where it remains.beachcomber1

beachcomber1 wrote:
this is just an excuse for them to drag their heels over removing the debris.

From the second paragraph of the story - &quot;A clear-up followed and a geo-technical expert examined the area on Friday afternoon. "

So not really much of an excuse

errr have you actually been there? the "clearup" consisted of builldozing all the earth onto the beach, where it remains.

And will be washed out sea, a natural process when cliffs fall its only sand

[quote][p][bold]beachcomber1[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]ranger_bob[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]beachcomber1[/bold] wrote:
this is just an excuse for them to drag their heels over removing the debris.[/p][/quote]From the second paragraph of the story - "A clear-up followed and a geo-technical expert examined the area on Friday afternoon. "
So not really much of an excuse[/p][/quote]errr have you actually been there? the "clearup" consisted of builldozing all the earth onto the beach, where it remains.[/p][/quote]And will be washed out sea, a natural process when cliffs fall its only sandLord Spring

free_sparrow wrote:
Beside the shock I declare this as an award winning and best of town landslip!

Trebles all round dear boy! Another award for the mantlepiece.

[quote][p][bold]free_sparrow[/bold] wrote:
Beside the shock I declare this as an award winning and best of town landslip![/p][/quote]Trebles all round dear boy! Another award for the mantlepiece.Phixer